Can opener



Jan. 13, 1959 L. GALos 2,868,409

CAN OPENER Filed June 26, 1957 m mfg/MM@ ATTDRN EYE CAN OPENER Louis Galos, Skokie, Ill.

Application June 26, 1957, Serial No. 668,082

4 Claims. (Cl. 220.--52)` This invention relates to a can opener, and more particularly to a can opener f ille type for removing a sealin g strip from a can. v

The object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is adapted to facilitate the opening of cans of the type that are provided with a removable sealing strip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener that includes a housing and a handle which are connected together, and wherein there is provided a manually operable crank which is provided with a bifurcated portion, the bifurcated portion adapted to engage the sealing strip which is to be removed, and wherein there is provided a means for compensating for the increasing thickness of the winding of the sealing strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is an elevational view showing the can opener of the present invention being used for removing a sealing strip from a can, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the can opener, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the can opener.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a `can which is provided with the usual sealing strip 11, and the can 1li includes the usual rim or bead 12.

The present invention is directed to a can opener which is indicated generally by the numeral 13, and the can opener 13 is adapted to be used for removing the sealing strip 11 when the can is to be opened. The can opener 13 includes a handle 14 which is provided with a flat end portion 15.

There is further provided a hollow housing or casing which is indicated generally by the numeral 16, and the housing 16 includes an end wall 17 which abuts the ilat portion 15 of the handle 14, and the end Wall 17 is secured to the handle 14 through the medium of a suitable securing element such as the bolt and nut assembly 18, Figure l. 4

The housing 16 further includes a second end wall 19 which is arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the rst end wall 17, and the housing 16 also includes a top wall Ztl and a bottom wall 21, the walls 20 and 21 being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other. The top wall 20 is provided With a slot 22 which registers with a slot 23 in the bottom wall 21.

There is further provided a crank which is indicated generally by the numeral 24, and the crank 24 includes a United States n' Patent C 2,868,409 liaented Jan. 13, 1 959 rice lirst portion 25 which is bifurcated or provided with a `slot as at 26, and the crank 24 further includes a second portion 27 which is arranged angularly with respect to the first portion 25, there being a third `portion 28 extending from the second portion 27. A hand grip 29 `is mounted on the third portion 23 for facilitating the manual turning of the crank 241. The first portion 25 of the crank 24 extends through the registering slots 22 and 23.

The housing 16 further includes spaced parallel side walls Btl, Figure 5.

Arranged within the housing 16 is a cylindrical collar 31, and the ilrst portion 25 of the crank 24 is rotatably arranged in the collar 31. Flanges 32 are arranged on the crank 24, as for example as shown in Figure 1. Extending outwardly from the collar 31 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith, is a pair of spaced parallel pins 33. These pins 33 are slidably mounted in a pair of spaced parallel sleeves 34, and the sleeves 34 project from the end wall 17 and are secured thereto lin any suitable manner. The bottom of each sidewall 30 is pro vided with a slot 35 for engagement with the curved bead or rim 12 on the can 10.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a can opener which is especially suitable for use in removing sealing strips such as the sealing strip 1 1 from a can such as the can 1t?. ln use, when the sealing strip 11 is to be removed from the can 10, as for example when the contents of the can 1@ are to be removedor emptied, it is only necessary to arrange the can opener 13 so that the slot 35 in the bottom of the can opener engages the rim 12 of the can lil. Then, a portion of the sealing strip 11 is arranged in engagement with the slot or biturcated portion 26 of the crank 24, and the hand grip Z9 is manually gripped and the crank 24 is rotated. The crank 2d includes the first portion 25 which projects through the collar 31, and the portion 25 is free to move in the slots 22 and 23 whereby a means is provided for compensating for the increased thickness of the sealing strip as it is removed. Also, the pins 33 are slidably mounted in the sleeves 34, and these pins 33 serve to guide the parts and maintain them in their proper position as the sealing strip is being removed. As the crank 24 is rotated. by means of the hand grip 29, it will be seen that the sealing strip 11 will become wound on the lower projecting end of the portion 25 and by continuing to rotate the crank 2li, the entire sealing strip 11 can be readily removed from the can.

The can opener of the present invention can be used for opening cans `containing different materials such as coffee, foodstuts and the like. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The housing or frame 16 may be made of metal, and the portion 25 of the crank 24 rotates in the tubular collar 31. rthe slots 22 and 23 permit the tube or collar 31 to slide forward or backward so as to carry the crank with it, and the pins 33 which slide in the sleeves 34 maiutain the crank in vertical position at all times.

The slot 26 receives the sealing strip 11 being removed. The slots .15 are adapted to be placed over the rim 12 of the can to be opened, and after the loose end of the strip 11 is lifted, it can be inserted in the slot 26. Then, one hand holding the opener so that the channel 35 is over the rim 12, the other hand can be used to turn the crank in a clockwise direction so that as the strip is peeled or removed from the can, the can will. revolve in a counterclockwise direction until the strip is off, and then the opener can be lifted and the wound up metal can be readily removed from the portion 25 of the crank 24.

The slots 35 on the bottom of the side walls 30 comprise the 'beads or rims of the cans whether the cans are round or straight, and whether the cans are large or small. Suicient clearance is provided adjacent the ends of the collar 31 to permit `the parts to be properly mounted.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I reserve all rights to such modications as properly fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a can opening device for removing the sealing strip from a can, a handle provided with a dat end portion, a hollow housing arranged contiguous to said llat end portion and having an end Wall secured to said han* dle, said housing including spaced parallel top and bottom walls, there being opposed registering slots in said top and bottom walls, a crank including a first portion extending through said slots, the lower end of said irst .portion being bifurcated for engagement with the sealing strip to be removed, said crank further including a second portion arranged angularly with respect to said first portion and said second portion terminating in a third portion, a hand grip on said third portion, a collar arranged within said housing and having the first portion of the crank extending therethrough, a pair of spaced -parallel pins extending from said collar and secured thereto, and a pair of spaced parallel sleeves secured to said iirst end wall for slidably receiving said pins.

2. In a can opening device for removing the sealing strip from a can, a handle provided with a at end portion, a hollow housing arranged contiguous to said flat end portion and having an end wall secured to said handle, said housing including spaced parallel top and bottom walls, spaced parallel side walls, there 'being opposed registering slots in said -top and bottom walls, a crank including a rst portion extending through said slots, the flower end of said rst portion being 'bifuroated for engagement with the sealing strip to be removed, said crank further including a second portion arranged angularly with respect to said rst portion and said second portion terminating in a third portion, a hand grip on said third portion, a collar arranged within said housing and having the lirst portion of the crank extending therethrough, a pair of spaced parallel pins extending from said collar and secured thereto, and a pair of spaced parallel sleeves secured to said first end wall for slidably receiving said pins, the bottom of the side walls 'being provided with slots for engagement with the rim of the can being opened.

3. In a can opener, a handle, la housing having alined parallel slots in the top and bottom of said housing secured to said handle, a crank having a winding stem portion thereof rotatably arrangedv in the slots in said housing, a collar mounted on said winding stem portion within said housing, a pair of spaced parallel pins secured to and extending outwardly of said collar at right angles to the vertical axis thereof, a pair of spaced parallel sleeves mounted in said housing in planes parallel to planes passing through said slots and adapted to telescopically receive said pins, said pins and said sleeves permitting the crank to shift laterally in the housing in a plane parallel to the planes in which the slots and sleeves are positioned. v y.

4. In a can opener, a handle, la housing having alined parallel slots in the `top and bottom of said housing secured to said handle, a crank having a winding stem a portion thereof rotatably arranged in the slots in said housing, a collar mounted on said winding stem portion within said housing, a pair of spaced parallelpins secured to and extending outwardly of said collar at right angles to the vertical axis thereof, a pair of spaced parallel sleeves mounted in said housing in planes parallel to planes passing through said slots and adapted to tele- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dazey Dec. 13, 1938 Patterson May 17, 1955 

